If you’ve ever listened to a song that could be categorised into ‘lo-fi’, ‘noise-pop’, ‘fuzz’, or one of those other seemingly fluid genre titles, then you’ll already know what PAWS are all about, and you’ll also know whether you are going to like ‘Salem’ or not. Luckily for PAWS, DIY garage bands haven’t been bludgeoned into everyone’s ears by mainstream media yet, and so their sound, although heavily borrowed, still retains some freshness and excitement. Even more luckily for them, PAWS have already shared a stage with Dum Dum Girls, Wavves, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Black Lips, Male Bonding, and my own personal noise-pop faves No Age. Although ‘Salem’s driving intro, relaxed vocals and bulky instrumental breaks are befitting of a current musical wave that seems youthful, despite No Age’s name, there will surely come a time that this kind of sound will indeed age, wilt, and expire. Thankfully though, that time has not yet arrived, and PAWS, if they fight off the numerous others for it, could have their short time in the sun.
Fun Fact: My other idea for this review was a totally ridiculous and equally elaborate pun about Sabrina the Teenage Witch, whose cat, paws and all, if you recollect, was called Salem. But I actually like the song, so thought I wouldn’t disgrace it with such silliness.
Discover PAWS: Official // Facebook // Soundcloud
By Alex Throssell
Dance Yrself Clean
